Modren Ashdod wis establisht in 1956 on the sand hills near the site o the auncient toun, an incorporatit as a ceety in 1968, wi a land-aurie o approximately 60 square kilometers (23.2 sq mi). Being a planned ceety, expansion follaed a main development plan, which facilitatit traffic an preventit air pollution in the residential auries, despite population growth. Ashdod had a population o 220,174 in 2015, wi an aurie o 47,242 dunams (47.242 km2; 18.240 sq mi).[4]